William cotton



Qnitrb tatrs gzrtrut @frn *H WILLIAM COTTON, OF LOUGHBOROUGH, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO RICHARD S. FAY, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DUDLEY HOSIERY COMPANY.

Letters Patent 1Y0. 67,727, dated August 13, 1807.

IMPROVEMENT IN KNITTING MACHINES.

@he Sflgchulc nitriet tu in llgrsc rttrrs ntmt mit mnlang part nf tige snuit.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CON CERN:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM COTTON, of Loughborough, in the county of Leicester, England, manufacturer, have invented improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for the Mnnnfacture of Looped Fabrics; und I do hereby, declare that the following` is a full and exact description thereof, reference being` had tothe aceompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon. Oi' such dran'ings- Figure 1 denotes n top View of a knitting machine containing my invention.

Figure 2 is a front, and

Figure 3 a. rear elevation of it.

Figures 4 and 5 are end elevations of it.

Figures 6 and 35 are transverse and vertical sections of it.

Such other figures as may be necessary to better represent those of the operative parts will be hereinafter referred to and described.

The machine contains two series of barbed needles. and two series of sinkers to operate therewith in the formation of loops from yarn laid on or presented to the needles by carriers, and to make at oneand the same time two pieces of work, one of which is formed on one side and the other on the other side of the middle of such machine. As, for instance, one leg and half the body of a pair of drawers may be knit on one half of the machine, while another Such leg and part of the body are being knit on the other half of the machine. I do not limit my machine totwo such divisions, as it may have a greater or different number, so as to make one piece, or more than two pieces of work at once, each of such being formed by means substantially as hereinafter set forth.

Of each series ofthe sinkers, every other one of them is moved successively by the action of a slur-cock," the remainder beingl Subsequently moved in a body or all at once, and by a catch-bar and other mechanism, as

l will be hereinafter explained. Those sinkers which operate in succession I term jack-sinkers," the others, or

those which move in a body or all at once, I term dividers, or dividingsinkers, in order to distinguish them. Thejaoksinkers form loops around pairs of the needles; the dividers, by subsequently being moved forward by what is termed the catch-bur, and while the jack-sinhers are correspondingly moved backward in a body, force the yarn between each two needles of each pair, and thus, by the peculiar operations of the jack-sinkere und the dividers, the yarn will be looped on each of the needles.

One important advantage of the above-mentioned mode of forming the loops, viz, by the jack-sinkers, dividers, and a catch-bar, to operate such in manner substantially as explained herein, is, that it renders the yarn or thread less liable to be broken than when all the sinkers nre operated successively. Other advantages will, be apparent to persons skilled in the construction and use of what are termed plane knitting machines." With the sinkers, needles, and yarn-carriers, and their actuating mechanisms, I employ certain grooved needles or instruments for faShioning,. that is, for eifeeting what is termed narrowing and widening of the work. These fashioningmeedles or instruments have mechanism, as will be hereinafter explained, for producing their l proper movements. Those fashioning-needles are employed to take loops from certain of the bearded needles and transfer them to and upon the others thereof, either to effect the process of narrowing or that of widening the work, as circumstances may require.

In the drawings, a represents the main frame of the machine, it being suitably Constructed for supporting the main operative parte. I: is the driving-shoft of the machine, it being provided with n fast pulley, b, and a loose pulley7 b3, and supported by boxes upheld by the frame a. A small hond-whecl, d, is also fixed on the driving-shaft, for the purpose of enabling such shaft to be revolved by manual power. At one end ofthe driving-shaft I is a gear, b2. which engages with another gear, ci, xed on n cam-shaft, c, which runs longitudinnlly and horizontally through the frame a, und may be supported in suitable bearings at the ends and middle 0f-tlie frame. Thus it will oe observed that by means of the said gears b al the cam-shaft a will receive rotary motion while the driving-shaft may be in revolution. d(see figs. 1 and 6) are the barbed or bearded needles, the heads il of which are fixed to o needle-bar, d", shown in figs. 3 and 6, provided with mechanism for imparting to it s compound movement. To this end the needlebor d2 is jointed to arms d, projecting from a horizonsnm 2 tal shaft, d", (see figs. 1, v'2, and 6,) supported in bearings a. Another' arm, d", projects Adownwards from the shaft d, and carries a rofller, zi', which rests against the periphery of a cam or tappet, als, fixed on the cum-shaft c. The vertical movements of the needles are effected by such caih and by means of :t spring, s, which is ,i applied `to the arm d and the frame'a, as represented in the drawings. The ncedlcbz|r d has two other arms, d, projecting down from it, they being jointed at theirV lower ends to two links d d, which nrcjoiuted to arms d, projecting down from a rocker-shaft, dl. One of the arms, d, bears a truck or roller, dl, which rests against a cam, d'7, lixcd on the cam-shaft c, a spring, s, serving to keep the roller up to the cam. The arms d, links d, arms d, shaft d, and'cam d", spring a and rollerft' 5 serve to produce thc forward and back movements of the needles in horizontal directions, both toward -and away from the presser-bar P, on and in which the sinkers e ar rranged, such movements being to effect the closing of' the beards of thc needles, and allow them to open by their inherent elasticity, as circumstances may require. s

Onepeculiarity of this machine is that its presser-bar Pis stationary, thc needles being moved up to and away from it, whereas in most if not all other machines the needles have vertical movements only, and the presser-bar is moved up to them in order to press their beards toward their Shanks. Thismoving of the needles toward and from a stationary presser is an advantage resulting from the necessity of moving the needles back or laterally, in order that the fashioning-needles or instruments may perform their otlicc of seizing thc loops. The mechanism for operating the sinkers to effect the formation of loops on4 the needles, and that for knocking over the work or casting it off the needles, may be thus explained: In thc drawings the sinkers are shown at e, as arranged between two horizontal and stationary bars e* P, and in grooves made parallel and transversely therein, one of such bars, viz, the lower one, serving as a presser to close the beards of the needles. These sinkers, which are in each half of the machine, are divided into jack-sinkers" and dividers,.thero being ajack-sinker between ecchtwo dividcrs, ns shownl in top view in Figure 7. A jnck,f, is arranged in rear of each of the jack-sinkers. Each jack, near its lower end, has a notch,f, to receive and enable the jack to be supported by a stationary bar, Another bar, f3, (see iig. 6,) serves to keep the notch astraddle of the bai-f2. Each series of jacksf has its 'jdcks actuated in one direction by a slur-cock, y, carried by a slur-bof\^- *f` irrthe usual manner. This :slur-cock and box are represented in Figure .8, which is a top view of them and their supporting and operating bars. The movement of the dividers in the same direction, and their movements i and those of the jacks, simultaneously in the opposite direction, are eected by means of a groovied bar, It, which I term the catch-bar, which, for this purpose, is constructed with ,longitudinal groove or space, formed between two projections, L 7L, Such grooves or spaces to receive projections e raised on the sinkers. When the slur. cocks are in action on the jacks, the projections h2, (shown more particularly in lfigurc 9, which is a longitudinal section of the catch-bar h, and the projection gnof the'slur-box 91,) will be so acted -on by the projection gz of the slur-box as to raise the catch-bar t out of the way of the said projection el of the snkcrs;'but, when the slur-cock may have tnishedfs traverse, the projection g2 of the box g will have passcr'from under the projection h2, thereby ceasing to Support the catch-har h, which, falling upon the sinkers, will embrace theirprujections el, so that, when actuated for the purpose, the catch-bar will retract all the sinkers simultaneously. The catchbar also operates to move the dividers forward. This is accomplished by the front edge of the projection h, which is somewhat lower thnthe projection L. The said front edge, by being `forced in contact with the rent edge of the dividers, drives the dividers 1forward untll their projections el come into line with those of thil jacksinkers. When`this takes place the catch-bar falls and receives v all the projections t" into its groove. The movement of the catch-bar is obtained by that bar having arms, hl, which are hinged to the upper ends of. arms h4, projecting npwardfrom a rocker-shaft, h". (See tige. 1 and 3.) An arm, li, extending from th shaft h5, carries a roller, 1f, which is-borne by a spring, a2, against a cam, It, aixed on the shaft-c. The knocking over" of the work is effected by a stationary comb, z', afixed to thc main cross-bar a. (See iig. 6, also Figure 10, which is a top view of the comb.) The work lies on the comb, and extends horizontally, or about so. out of the machine. The descent of the needles between'tbe teeth of the knocking-over comb will cause'the needles to draw lthe yarn down through the loop of the work, so as to form new loops, throu'gh which vthc needles are to be subsequently raised for the purpose of receiving a fresh ,supply of yarn, laid on them by (he thread-carrier. In the drawings of the machine there are two thread-carriers, j j, they being projected from s. cylindrical'rod,j, which rests and turns in bearings j* made in the slur-boxes g. These slur-boxcsnre connected together by o2 bar, g3, and slide lengthwise on another or stationary bar, g". A spring-brake, j, allixcd tothe bur if, curves around and embraces the rod j, and exerts a frictional pressure thereonby which thc said bar will be moved lengthwise with the bar glvllutil-estopped, as hereinafter described. As the threadcarricrs reach either end of the/ir traverse, they will bo stopped by contact with one of two adjustable stops, j* k, arranged as shown in fg. ,M 1. Each of these stops iS provided with mechanism for adjusting it in position, eithecnearer to or furtherfrom the middle of the machine. This adjustment of the stop is to enable the traverse of thc thread-carrier to be increased or diminishedfas circumstances may rerpxroin the process of fashioning." The Adjustment of the stops, as occasion may require, is etfecteif'lby mechanism to be described. t; I apply the Btops'j k" to slidingcarriages l l, suitably supported by and so as to be capable of being slid o; moved lengthwise in posts a5 a5 of the main frame. (See ig- 1.) Each ofvsnch carriages l has a worm-rack, l, 'ou its bottom .to receive u.' wenn, l, carried by a. shaft, l, Supported by the part ad. A pinion, l5, is fixed on the said WOlm-lhuft, and Yengages with n. gearyl, provided with two rat-chets, l, which are fastened to it, and with the gear revolve freely on o, stationary stud,ll". '.lwo clnwkcrsor plwls, l, carried by a lever, Z', operate with the two utohon. there being one pawl to each ratchet, and the whole being as shown in each of the end elevations. (Figs. 4 and 5.) Each lever, l, turns one stationary fulcrum, l, and carries a roller, Z13, which revolves and slides freely on a pin projecting from the lever- A helical spring, a, connects the two pawls, and serves to kp either of them up to n ratchet, while thc other is kept out of action with its own ratchet by one of tw'o cotohes.'z,arnnged as represented, and applied to and So as to be capable of turning on a stud projecting from the lever lm. A forked arm, p7, projecting from a shaflapz, engages with the hub of a roller, Z13; that is to say, the fork of the arm embraces the hub and enters a groove made in and around it. When the shaft 712 is moved endwise the arm p7 will correspondingly move the roller Zw; that is, so as to throw it leither on or off a cam, si, fixed on the camshaft e. The said com, by its action on the roller Z13, will produce an upward motion of the lever Z, carrying the pawls Z9, the lever being moved in the opposite direction by its inherent weight and that of the parts supported by it. This upward movement of the lever willncause either of the pawls to actuatc its ratchet so as to revolve the gear l. This gear, acting with the pinion l", will cause it to revolve the worin-shaft F', and Ithus put in movement the adjustable stop j" or 7c oversuch wormshaft. The direction in which the stop will be moved will depend on which pawl maybe in action. '.lhe stop is to be moved outward when the work is to be widened,'and inward when it is to be narrowed.

As this machine is calculated to produce two separate fabrics at one and the same time, we shall now describe the mechanism for moving the slur-boxes yl, of which there is one for each of such fabrics. The movements of the slur-boxes cause not only the movement of their slur-cocks, but by means ofthe springbrake hereinbefore mentioned, effect therequisite movements of the rod carrying the thread-carriers. Aconnectingrod, g, jointed to the bar yi, is also jointed to the upper end of a lever, g". ((Sec fig. 3.) This lever, by means of a connecting-rod, gl, is also'connectcd to another lever, g', which, by a rod, y, is connected to a slide-bar, gli. This slide-bar moves longitudinally' in stationary guides, g, and carries two bowls or rollers, gl5 gw, whose peripheries rest against opposite sides of the periphery of a eam, y", fixed on a transverse shaft, g. This shaft` has a bevclled gear, 51', iixcd on it, which engages with another bcvelled gear, gz', atlixcd ou the camshaft c. From the abovei will be seen that during the revolution of the coing" the bargi willbc moved back and forth longitudinally. The gear f/l" revolves freely on the shaft c. A forked arm, g, extending from the shaft l p2, enters the groove g2g of a clutch, y, which revolves with the shaft c7 and slides thereon, and serves to engage the gear gm, or disengage it from the shaft, the engagement being such as to cause the shaft t0 be revolved by the gear. The gear g2 is to be in engagement with the shaft c while plain work is b ing inade by the machine, but when the work is boing fashioned, the gear is to be out of engagement with the shaft. When fashioningis to be carried on, the fashinningmeedles m are brought into position with respect to the needles d, as represented in Figure 11. At other times these instruments are to be turned back or thrown out of action, which can be done by revolving their arms m on the shaft 1n.g with which they are connected. Each of these instruments m is formed with a groove in its side, which comes next the needle d, the saine being so`as to cover or receive the beard of the needle` Each instrument m is also bent or curved a little near its point, in order that it may readily enter that part of the beard recess of thc needle which is below the point of the beard. The machine shows two ef -t-hese fashixiig--needles to each carrier m3, they being projecting from Mover, m5, which is arranged within, and has its fulcrum supported by the carrier. A spring, m, is applied to cach lcver and carrier. A slide-rod, mx, extending through the carrier, is borne against the lever by the action 0f a. long cam, my, from the shaft m. There arc two such cams on the shaft, and the shaft at the proper times iS turned in its bearings so as to bring them into and out of action with respect to the slide-rod m". The shaft m* has a crank, z, on one end, which is connected to a lever, z, by n. connecting-rod, el. (See fig. 4.) This lever carries a frictionroller, z5, which rests 0n a cam, ef, carried by the cam-shaft a. A spring, z", bears thc friction-roller up to the cam. The purpose of the earn z, the roller z8, and the lever z2, the connecting-rod 21, and the crank z, is to cause the fashioning-uccdles m to press upon the barbs of the needles d, and enter their grooves in order that the points of the needles mmay enter and take up the stitches on the ncedle's d. The upper arm of each of the levers m6 brings up against a stop, m5', fixed on the carriage. The levers m5 are fixed to separate carriages, m3, which are projected from separate bars, m" m7; that is, one o' such carriages is fixed to one, and the other to the other of such bars. The said bars m m7 are supported so as to be capable 0f bcingslid longitudinally on arms mg, projected from e. shaft, m9. These bars m m7 are notched upon a projection, ma, extending from the two adjustable stops 7" c, the same being as represented in tig. 1. The bars m m7, by their connection with the adjustable stops, receive motion therefrom in opposite directions. The shaft m is supported by, and so as to be capable of turning on, the upper ends of arms m, (sec figs. 1 and 2,) aflixed ,t0 and projecting upward from a rocker-shaft,111j which has affixed to it an arm, mi, which carries a f1'ict'ion-rollcr,m, which rests against the periphery Of a cam, mf, fixed o u the cam-shaft e. A. spring, m32, fixed to tho arm m und the frame, keeps the roller up to the cam. By means of the arms m, the sha-ft m, arm mi", rollor ml, cam m", and spring m31, a slight to-and-fro movement in n. horizontal direction will be imparted to thc fasliioning-needles m, the same being to enable them to pass over the heads of the knitting-needles d. From the shaft 'm9 en arm, m, carrying a friction-Wheel, mm, extends, such wheel being home by a spring, m3, cgibin-5t com, m21, xed on tho Caml-shaft c. The hed mls of the arm mw turns of the shaft m9, and is held thereto by a set-screw, m, which enters a recess or slot, m34, made in the shaft. By unscrewing the set-screw thc shaft may be turned in ifs bearings so as to throw the fashioning-instruments out of action with the needles d. The @am m21 and the spring mi aid in effecting the vertical or up-and-clown' movements ef the fashioning-needles.

Figures 12, 13, and 14 show a 'fashioning-needle, m, in either of its positions it assumes in operating for the change of a loop, While the fashioning is being effected. In fig. 11 the fashioningmeedle m is represented as resting against and S0 as to receive into its groove the beard of 'one of the needles Cl, the needle nt being in the/act of seizing a loop from the needle d. In tig. 12 thc fashioningmcedle m. is shown in the act of transferring e loop, and ing. 13 it is exhibited as holding the loop `in a position to deliver it upon the necdlc ci destined to receive it; the fabric in such figures being shown in red lines. FigA 14 exhibits the position 0f the fashioning-needle m, after the transfer of the loop to and upon a. needle, cZ. 4

In this machine certain of the cams hereinbefore described were einnlovnd fnr ooeratino ehn, needles d and other parts, in order to produce a. fabric of uniform width; but when there is to be produced a variation in the width ofthe fabric, that is to say, when fashioning of it is required, I' bring other cams into operation, in order to effect tbc requisite motions of the main needles. For this purpose the friction-rollers d", dl, 717, m, lmzu are rst shifted to and upon or against the additional cams d, limi, hsl, mm, and mzifixed on the shaft c. The rollers lx3 are to be on the cams s2. After thefushioning has taken place the rollers d', d, h", m, and m are changed back to the cams for doing the plain work, and the rollers Zla are moved o' their cams s2. The shifting of the rollers is effected by mechanism, which may be thus described: Upon the shaft c (seo iig. 2) is a cam, n, which, during its rotation, acts on a roller, nl, supported by and so as to be capable of being revolved on nstud, 1i, which carries a driver or pawl, n4. The st'url projects from a lever or arm, n2, provided with a spring, n, to

draw the roller nl against the cam 1t. The driver or pawl 'n operates with a ratchet,n6,{xed on a. tubular shaft, n, which turns on a stationary arbor, n. A cam, o, is fixed on the shaft 11,.c This cam acts against a, projection or stud, pl, extending from an arm, p, projecting from the shaftp. Another arm,p3, extends up from the shaft p2, and carries a. frietionroller,p5, against which a. cam, gl, projecting from the side of a wheel, g, fixed on the shaft c, operates. The operation of the cam n, while revolving, is such as to cause'the pawl n* to actuate the ratchet 1f, whereby the cam o will be revolved so as to elfect a movement of the shaft p2, such as will throw the roller pi' into or out of the path of movement of the cam q. Such cam, while the shaft c is in revolution, will so act against the roller as to cause the shaft p2 to be moved longitudinally, so as to change therollers di, dw, mm, and mi@ to and upon the additional or fashioning-cams hercinbefore mentioned. A cam, rl, fixed on the side of a \vheel,.r, which isxed on the shaft c, byvacting against the roller p5 at the proper' time, will cause the shaft A772 to he slid in an opposite direction, so as to move the rollers d', dw, 1LT, mls, and m20 olf the fashioning-cams and upon the other cams, or those by which the plain work is effected. It will be observed that the surface of each of the thread-carriers next the needles is formed fiat, or nearly so, as is indicated by the separate views of them, as shown in Figures 15, 16, 17, and 18, where k* represents the tint part. The object of this part 7c* is that when, in fashioning, the thread-carrier may stop opposite a needle, the part k* may act to close the beard of the needle so as to prevent the thread from being caught by the beards of the next adjacent needles.

'lhe nextparts of the mechanism to be described are those for oiling the threads or yarn, and for taking up its slack or drawing it tight for a correct formation of the selvedge or edge of the work.

In the drawings, t" t represent two 'oil vessels or holders i/Xed on a horizontal rod, tb, and provided with l two perforated thread-guides, t t. The threads or yarn, before being passed through the thread-carriers, are

lcd through the said guides and against Sponges, or their equivalents, placed in the vessels t* t, and saturated with oil. By ruiming or being drawn in contact with the Sponges,l the yarns will be oiled. The rod t is su'pported by two arms, t t, projecting up from a horizontal shaft, (See fig. 3.) One of the said arms td constitutes part oi a. lever, wose niwer.l arm t carries a Iriction-roller, which rests against and is moved by a cam, t, fixed on the cam-shaft C.' During the revolution of Such cam, and at the proper time, the lever will be moved so as to move the lubricating-boxes and their thread-guides in a manner to cause the Slack of the yarn at each selvedge to be taken up, 0r the yarn to be drawn tight, so as to make a goed or proper selvedge.

Figures 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34 exhibit tbc CalnS hereinbefore mentioned, each being marked with its appropriate designating letter. i

Although I have described certain mechanism claimed in a patent numbered 59,892, of United States Patents, and granted to me on thc'twenticth day of November, A. D. 1866, I do not herein intend to claim such. I have been obliged to represent most if `not the whole of such mechanism in Order to clearly exhibit the connection and relation of the parts constituting my present invention which relates to the mechanism for oiling the thread or yarn, and taking up its slack or drawing ittight for a correct formation of the selvedge or edge of the work.

What I claim as my present invention is as follows, viz:

I claim the arrangement as well as the combination of the oiling-box t and the perforated guide-lip tc with the horizontal rod tb, plOViLlcd with mechanism for operating it as set forth.

I also cla-im the combination of the guide-lip t", and its supporting rod t", provided with mechanism for opera-ting it as described, with the main needles, their knocking-over" combl and presser, and their sinkers; the said guide-lip and rod, and their operative mechanism, being for taking up the slack ofthe yarn, as and for the purpose hereinbcfore Set forth. i I

In testimony whereof` l, the said WILLIAM COTTON, have hereunto signed my name to this specification in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM COTTON.

Witnesses:

Fass. Guo. RAWSON, United States Consular Agent, Nottingham.

F. HUnnAnD, Nutt/agitent. 

